---
title: "Deploy Next.js + AI SDK"
description: "Next.js AI Chat Template using Vercel AI SDK"
category: "AI/ML"
url: https://railway.com/deploy/nextjs-ai-sdk
---

# Deploy Next.js + AI SDK

Next.js AI Chat Template using Vercel AI SDK

**[Deploy Next.js + AI SDK on Railway](https://railway.com/template/nextjs-ai-sdk)**

- **Creator:** Louis Petrik's Projects
- **Category:** AI/ML

## Template content

### railway-next-ai-sdk

- **Source:** LouisPetrik/railway-next-ai-sdk

## Documentation

# Deploy and Host Next.js + AI SDK on Railway

Next.js + AI SDK combines Next.js 16's App Router with Vercel's AI SDK to create AI-powered applications with streaming text generation. This template provides a single-page interface for streaming completions using OpenAI's GPT-5 mini model, with real-time visual indicators and a Docker-optimized deployment.

## About Hosting Next.js + AI SDK

This template deploys a production-ready Next.js application with integrated AI streaming capabilities. The setup uses Docker multi-stage builds with Next.js standalone output for minimal image sizes and fast cold starts. The application includes built-in health checks for Railway's monitoring, streams responses directly from OpenAI using the AI SDK's `streamText` and `useCompletion` hooks, and requires only an OpenAI API key to function. No database or persistent storage is needed, making it ideal for lightweight AI interaction demos and prototypes.

## Common Use Cases

- AI writing assistants and content generation tools with streaming output
- Interactive prompt testing and AI model experimentation interfaces
- Educational demos showcasing real-time AI text generation
- Starting point for building custom AI-powered applications on Railway

## Dependencies for Next.js + AI SDK Hosting

- Next.js 16 (App Router with standalone output mode)
- Vercel AI SDK (`ai`, `@ai-sdk/react`, `@ai-sdk/openai`)
- Node.js 22 runtime environment
- Docker for containerized deployment

### Deployment Dependencies

- **OpenAI API Key** (required): Get your API key from [OpenAI Platform](https://platform.openai.com/api-keys)
  - ⚠️ **Important**: Keep your API key secure. Never commit it to version control or share it publicly. Railway environment variables are encrypted and secure.
- Railway account for deployment and hosting

The Dockerfile uses a multi-stage build to optimize the final image size, creating separate stages for dependencies, building, and the production runtime.

## Why Deploy Next.js + AI SDK on Railway?

Railway is a singular platform to deploy your infrastructure stack. Railway will host your infrastructure so you don't have to deal with configuration, while allowing you to vertically and horizontally scale it.

By deploying Next.js + AI SDK on Railway, you are one step closer to supporting a complete full-stack application with minimal burden. Host your servers, databases, AI agents, and more on Railway.

## Similar templates

- [Chat Chat](https://railway.com/deploy/-WWW5r) — Chat Chat, your own unified chat and search to AI platform.
- [stella](https://railway.com/deploy/stella) — Self-host stella with web, API, Postgres, Redis, and object storage.
- [Hermes Agent | OpenClaw Alternative with Dashboard](https://railway.com/deploy/hermes-agent-or-openclaw-alternative-wit) — Self-Hosted Hermes AI Agent for Telegram, Discord & Slack

Open this page in a browser: https://railway.com/deploy/nextjs-ai-sdk
